Compare towns
Durham vs Meredith vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Durham | Meredith | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
6,758 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #9 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.